Methods and systems for providing additional service applications in pay television

ABSTRACT

A pay television gaming system including a pay television network having a multiplicity of subscriber units each including a television, receiving apparatus for receiving gaming inputs from the multiplicity of subscriber units, transmitting apparatus for transmitting to the multiplicity of subscriber units information relating to gaming results and accounting apparatus for settling gaming debts and winnings via the pay television network. Other services, such as shopping may be provided.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to pay television systems generally andmore particularly to non program applications thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are known in the patent literature various proposals for gamblingsystems employing telecommunications.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,602,279 describes a method for providing targetedprofile interactive pay television displays.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,482 describes a home merchandise orderingtelecommunications terminal which employs a bar-code reader and amerchandise catalog.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,730 describes an automated sweepstakes-type gamewhich is designed to be used on banking system computer terminals suchas ATM or POS terminals.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,797,913 describes a direct telephone dial orderingservice system in which a calling customer can order products and/orservices from a given vendor without voice intervention using atelephone as a subscriber interface device.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,787 describes a concurrent game network in which amaster game terminal is connected in a computer network with a pluralityof slave game terminals. The terminals include touch screen display.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,882,473 and 4,764,666 describe an on-line wageringsystem with programmable game entry cards and operator security cardswhich employs a smart card in a special purpose terminal which islocated at a gaming station. The terminals in the various gamingstations are interconnected by conventional data links. The smart cardsare personalized for each participant and for operators. This system isalso described in an article entitled "Lotteries and Smart Cards, byCliff Dutton et al, SCAT '89, Conference Proceedings: Smart CardApplications and Technology, pp 165-171.

An article entitled "Application of Card Technology to the CasinoEnvironment" by Walter H. Wellman, SCAT '89, Conference Proceedings:Smart Card Applications and Technology, pp 172-182, describes the use ofsmart cards in gaming.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,996,705 describes the use of telecommunications systemsfor lotteries and describes a telephone-based system employing anoperator who speaks with the customer.

None of the above-mentioned prior art patents relate to pay televisionsystems.

In an article entitled "An Evolutionary Approach to the Development ofTwo-Way Cable Technology Communications" by James B. Wright et al, IEEETransactions on Cable Television, Vol pay television-2, No. 1, January1977, the development of two-way pay television systems is proposed forvarious applications, including shopping.

In a publication entitled "VideoGuard Secure Pay-TV Access Control"dated December, 1989, published by News Datacom in London, England, atpage 2, a possible application of smart cards in TV merchandising ismentioned. At page 4 it is stated that "Smart cards can be used as debitcards to purchase merchandise."

U.S. Pat. No. 4,451,701 describes a viewdata system and apparatus whichutilizes, without modification, a conventional television receiver forproviding interactive communication between a host computer and aconsumer.

The following U.S. patents are representative of the art found in theU.S. patent literature: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,467,424; 5,036,461; 4,875,164;5,173,589; 4,893,248; 4,959,783; 4,494,197; 4,323,770; 5,175,416;5,038,022; 4,969,183; 5,181,107; 5,034,807; 4,689,619; 5,077,607;4,958,381; 4,450,477; 4,928,168; 4,926,256; 4,455,570; 4,926,255;5,172,413; 4,864,110; 4,962,531; 5,068,894; 5,036,389; 4,968,873;5,128,523; 5,162,638; 5,081,680; 5,191,410; 5,111,030; 4,558,464;5,065,235; 3,845,277; 4,980,542; 5,105,268; 4,978,839.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide pay television systems havingsignificant non-program features. The term "pay television" is usedthroughout the specification and claims in a broad sense to includecable television, satellite television, and pay television generally.The invention also extends to television gaming and shopping systemsgenerally.

There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention a pay television gaming system including a paytelevision network having a multiplicity of subscriber units eachincluding a television, apparatus for receiving gaming inputs from themultiplicity of subscriber units; apparatus for transmitting to themultiplicity of subscriber units information relating to gaming results;and accounting apparatus for settling gaming debts and winnings via thepay television network.

There is additionally provided in accordance with a preferred embodimentof the present invention a television gaming system including atelevision network and a multiplicity of subscriber units each includinga television, communication apparatus for receiving gaming inputs fromthe multiplicity of subscriber units; apparatus for transmitting to themultiplicity of subscriber units information relating to gaming results;and accounting apparatus for settling gaming debts and winnings via thecommunication apparatus.

There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention a pay television shopping system including a paytelevision network including a central control station and amultiplicity of subscriber units each including a television; apparatusfor transmitting via the pay television network to the multiplicity ofsubscriber units information relating to shopping opportunities;apparatus for receiving shopping inputs from the multiplicity ofsubscriber units; and accounting apparatus for settling shopping debtsvia the pay television network.

There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention a pay television gaming system including a paytelevision network having a central control station and a multiplicityof subscriber units each including a television; apparatus for receivinggaming inputs from the multiplicity of subscriber units; apparatus fortransmitting live to the multiplicity of subscriber units informationrelating to gaming results; and accounting apparatus for settling gamingdebts and winnings.

There is additionally provided in accordance with a preferred embodimentof the present invention a pay television gaming system including a paytelevision network having a multiplicity of subscriber units eachincluding a television; apparatus for receiving gaming inputs from themultiplicity of subscriber units; apparatus for transmitting to themultiplicity of subscriber units information relating to gaming results;and programmable apparatus for limiting gambling activity via the paytelevision network.

There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention a pay television gaming system including a paytelevision network having a central control station and a multiplicityof subscriber units each including a television; apparatus for receivinggaming inputs from the multiplicity of subscriber units; apparatus fortransmitting to the multiplicity of subscriber units informationrelating to gaming results; and accounting apparatus connected directlyto general purpose credit card charging and crediting facilities forsettling gaming debts and winnings via the pay television network andthe credit card facilities.

There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention a pay television shopping system including a paytelevision network including a central control station and amultiplicity of subscriber units each including a television; apparatusfor transmitting via the pay television network to the multiplicity ofsubscriber units information relating to shopping opportunities;apparatus for receiving shopping inputs from the multiplicity ofsubscriber units; and accounting apparatus connected directly to generalpurpose credit card charging and crediting facilities for settlingshopping debts via the pay television network and the credit cardfacilities,

Preferably the accounting apparatus maintains separate accounts for paytelevision program charges and for non-program charges.

There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention a pay television gaming method including the steps of:providing a pay television network having a central control station anda multiplicity of subscriber units each including a television;receiving gaming inputs from the multiplicity of subscriber units;transmitting to the multiplicity of subscriber units informationrelating to gaming results; settling gaming debts and winnings via thepay television network.

There is additionally provided in accordance with a preferred embodimentof the present invention a television gaming method including the stepsof: providing a television network having a central control station anda multiplicity of subscriber units each including a television;receiving gaming inputs from the multiplicity of subscriber units;transmitting to the multiplicity of subscriber units informationrelating to gaming results; and settling gaming debts and winnings viacommunications apparatus.

There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention a pay television shopping method including the stepsof: providing a pay television network including a central controlstation and a multiplicity of subscriber units each including atelevision; transmitting via the pay television network to themultiplicity of subscriber units information relating to shoppingopportunities; receiving shopping inputs from the multiplicity ofsubscriber units; and settling shopping debts via the pay televisionnetwork.

There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention a pay television gaming method including the steps of:providing a pay television network having a central control station anda multiplicity of subscriber units each including a television;receiving gaming inputs from the multiplicity of subscriber units;transmitting live to the multiplicity of subscriber units informationrelating to gaming results; and settling gaming debts and winnings.

There is additionally provided in accordance with a preferred embodimentof the present invention a pay television gaming method including thesteps of: providing a pay television network having a multiplicity ofsubscriber units each including a television; receiving gaming inputsfrom the multiplicity of subscriber units; transmitting to themultiplicity of subscriber units information relating to gaming results;and limiting gambling activity via the pay television network.

There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention a pay television gaming method including the steps of:providing a pay television network having a central control station anda multiplicity of subscriber units each including a television;receiving gaming inputs from the multiplicity of subscriber units;transmitting to the multiplicity of subscriber units informationrelating to gaming results; and interconnecting directly to generalpurpose credit card charging and crediting facilities for settlinggaming debts and winnings via the pay television network and the creditcard facilities.

There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention a pay television shopping method including the stepsof: providing a pay television network including a central controlstation and a multiplicity of subscriber units each including atelevision; transmitting via the pay television network to themultiplicity of subscriber units information relating to shoppingopportunities; receiving shopping inputs from the multiplicity ofsubscriber units; and interconnecting directly to general purpose creditcard charging and crediting facilities for settling shopping debts viathe pay television network and the credit card facilities.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, theapparatus and method of the present invention may be operable withoutrequiring any voice interaction between the subscriber and an operator.

In gaming applications, the television network may additionally providegaming statistics to subscribers.

In one embodiment of the invention, gaming programs may be received bythe subscribers from a source other than a television network, such as acomputer or video cassette.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully fromthe following detailed description, taken in conjunction with thedrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a generalized block diagram illustration of a pay televisiontelevision gaming system constructed and operative in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a generalized block diagram illustration of a broadcasttelevision gaming system constructed and operative in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a generalized block diagram illustration of a pay televisiontelevision shopping system constructed and operative in accordance witha preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B together constitute a generalized block diagramillustration of a part of a pay television television system constructedand operative in accordance with a further preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a generalized block diagram illustration of a pay televisiontelevision gaming system constructed and operative in accordance with ayet another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a generalized block diagram illustration of a pay televisiontelevision shopping system constructed and operative in accordance witha preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C together constitute a simplified block diagramillustration of part of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 constitutes a simplified block diagram illustration of gaminginput receiving apparatus forming part of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 9A and 9B together constitute a simplified block diagramillustration of gaming control circuitry forming part of the apparatusof FIG. 1;

FIGS. 10A and 10B together constitute a simplified block diagramillustration of accounting apparatus forming part of the apparatus ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a simplified block diagram illustration of transmissionapparatus forming part of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 12A and 12B together constitute a simplified block diagramillustration of part of the apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 13 constitutes a simplified block diagram illustration ofcommunication apparatus forming part of the apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 14A and 14B together constitute a simplified block diagramillustration of gaming control circuitry forming part of the apparatusof FIG. 2;

FIGS. 15A and 15B together constitute a simplified block diagramillustration of accounting apparatus forming part of the apparatus ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 16 is a simplified block diagram illustration of transmissionapparatus forming part of the apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 17A, 17B and 17C together constitute a simplified block diagramillustration of part of the apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 18 is a simplified block diagram illustration of shopping inputreceiving apparatus forming part of the apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 19A and 19B together constitute a simplified block diagramillustration of shopping control circuitry forming part of the apparatusof FIG. 1;

FIGS. 20A and 20B together constitute a simplified block diagramillustration of accounting apparatus forming part of the apparatus ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 21 is a simplified block diagram illustration of transmissionapparatus forming part of the apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 22A and 22B are simplified block diagram illustrations ofapparatus for limiting gaming activity forming part of the apparatus ofFIG. 5;

FIGS. 23, 24, 25 and 26 together constitute an illustration of theconfiguration of typical codes for information utilized in the systemsof the present invention;

FIGS. 27A, 27B and 27C together constitute a flow chart illustrating theoperation of the gaming apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 28 is a flow chart illustrating selection of the payment option inthe apparatus of FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 29 is a flow chart illustrating selection of the payment option inthe apparatus of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 30A, 30B and 30C together constitute a flow chart illustrating theoperation of the shopping apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 31A, 31B and 31C together constitute a flow chart illustrating theoperation of the interactive gaming apparatus of FIG. 4;

FIG. 32 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of statisticscompilation and distribution facilities forming part of the apparatusconstructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIGS. 33, 34 and 35 illustrate typical screen displays appearing in thecourse of operation of the apparatus of FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 respectively;and

FIG. 36 illustrates a typical statistics screen display appearing in thecourse of operation of the apparatus of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which is a generalized block diagramillustration of a pay television television gaming system constructedand operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

The pay television gaming system includes or is used with a paytelevision network 10 typically including program input apparatus (notshown) coupled by any suitable connection, e.g. cables and microwave,with a multiplicity of subscriber units 12. The pay television networkenvisioned in the present invention may provide communication in eithera single direction, i.e. to the subscriber, or alternatively in bothdirections, i.e. both to and from the subscriber. Where the paytelevision network provides communication only in a single direction,the communication from the subscriber may be handled by telephone or byany other suitable communications medium.

Preferably, each of the multiplicity of subscriber units includes atelevision 14, a pay television interface unit 16 and an associatedsubscriber input unit 18. The pay television interface unit 16 mayinclude a conventional decoder which is commercially available frommultiple vendors. Preferably, however, the interface unit 16 is aspecial purpose unit, whose functionality is described hereinbelow withreference to FIGS. 7A-7C.

The subscriber input unit 18 may include a conventional pay televisionremote control unit. Alternatively it may include a keyboard or otheralphanumeric input device which is associated with the interface unit16.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the paytelevision network 10 provides one or more gaming programs which may beselected by subscribers and in connection with which subscribers mayenter gaming inputs, such as bets in a card game or roulette.Alternatively, the gaming program may be received by subscribers not viathe pay television network 10 but rather from a supplementary programsource 19, such as a video cassette or a computer, via interface 16.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present inventionapparatus 20 is provided for receiving gaming inputs from themultiplicity of subscriber units 12. This apparatus may be implementedas part of the computer system of the pay television network 10 oralternatively may be separate computer apparatus associated therewith.Apparatus 20 may receive data from subscriber units 12 via the paytelevision network or via a telephone link via a modem (not shown) atthe subscriber side. The functionality and structure of the apparatusfor receiving gaming inputs will be described in detail hereinafter inconnection with FIG. 8.

Gaming is administered by gaming control circuitry 22, which interfaceswith apparatus 20 and with transmission apparatus 26, which transmitsthe gaming program and results to subscribers along the pay televisionnetwork. The functionality and structure of the gaming control circuitry22 will be described in detail hereinafter in connection with FIGS. 9Aand 9B. Gaming control circuitry 22 also receives inputs from gamechance generators 21 and from supplier accounting processors 25.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention,accounting apparatus 24 interfaces with gaming control circuitry 22 foradministering financial transactions related to the gaming between thesubscribers and the pay television network. The accounting apparatus 24may be operated as part of the pay television network accounting system,and may debit and credit, losses and winnings as the case may be to thesubscribers' pay television accounts. Alternatively and preferably,separate accounts for pay television programs and gaming are maintained.The functionality and structure of the accounting apparatus 24 will bedescribed in detail hereinafter in connection with FIGS. 10A and 10B.

The accounting apparatus 24 may interface directly with transmissionapparatus 26 for providing information to subscribers regarding theirwinnings, losses, and account balances via the pay television system.The functionality and structure of the transmission apparatus 26 will bedescribed in detail hereinafter in connection with FIG. 11. Preferablythe accounting apparatus 24 maintains separate accounts for paytelevision program charges and for non-program charges.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which is a generalized block diagramillustration of a broadcast television gaming system constructed andoperative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

The broadcast television gaming system includes or is used with abroadcast television networks 30 typically including program inputapparatus (not shown) and reaching a multiplicity of subscriber units32.

Preferably, each of the multiplicity of subscriber units includes atelevision 34 including an antenna 35 and an associated subscriber inputunit 38. The subscriber input unit 38 is preferably a conventional orspecial purpose unit, whose functionality is described hereinbelow withreference to FIGS. 12A and 12B. It may include a keyboard or otheralphanumeric input device. The subscriber input unit 38 may also serveas a report television controller.

The subscriber input unit 38 is preferably associated with wired orwireless communication apparatus 40, via a telephone line or any othersuitable communication link 41. Subscriber input unit 38 may alsoreceive programs from a supplementary program source 39.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, thebroadcast television network 30 provides one or more gaming programswhich may be selected by subscribers and in connection with whichsubscribers may enter gaming inputs, such as bets in a card game orroulette, via the subscriber input unit 38.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present inventioncommunication apparatus 40 is operative for receiving gaming inputs fromthe multiplicity of subscriber units 32.

The functionality and structure of apparatus 40 will be described indetail hereinafter in connection with FIG. 13.

Gaming is administered by gaming control circuitry 42, which interfaceswith apparatus 40 and with TV transmission apparatus 44, which transmitsthe gaming program and results to subscribers along the broadcasttelevision network. Gaming control circuitry 42 also receives inputsfrom supplier accounting processors 47 and from supplier game chancegenerators 49, such as suitably programmed computers.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention,accounting apparatus 46 interfaces with gaming control circuitry 42 foradministering financial transactions related to the gaming between thesubscribers and the broadcast television network. The accountingapparatus may debit and credit, losses and winnings as the case may beto the subscribers' accounts.

The accounting apparatus 46 may interface directly with communicationapparatus 40 for providing information to subscribers regarding theirwinnings and losses, via the broadcast television system. Accountingapparatus 46 may also interface directly with transmission apparatus 44for providing information to subscribers regarding their winnings,losses and account balances, via the television broadcast network 30.This information may be received by the subscriber in oral form, oralternatively in visual form by means of a display associated with thesubscriber input unit 38 or alternatively displayed on the television 34by means of a suitable display output link 48 between the subscriberinput unit 38 and the television 34.

Accounting apparatus 46 may also interface directly with supplieraccounting processors 47 to provide accounting data related tosuppliers.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which is a generalized block diagramillustration of a pay television television shopping system constructedand operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

The pay television shopping system includes or is used with a paytelevision network 50 typically including program input and transmissionapparatus (not shown) and being coupled by any suitable connection, e.g.cables and microwave, with a multiplicity of subscriber units 52.

Preferably, each of the multiplicity of subscriber units includes atelevision 54, a pay television interface unit 56 and an associatedsubscriber input unit 58. The pay television interface unit 56 may be aconventional decoder which is commercially available from multiplevendors. Preferably, however, the interface unit 56 is a special purposeunit, whose functionality is described hereinbelow with reference toFIGS. 17A-17C.

The subscriber input unit 58 may be a conventional pay television remotecontrol unit. Alternatively, it may include a keyboard or otheralphanumeric input device which is associated with the interface unit56.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the paytelevision network 50 provides one or more shopping programs which maybe selected by subscribers and in connection with which subscribers mayenter shopping inputs, such as selection of the type of goods, color andsize. Alternatively, shopping opportunities may be provided by shoppingoffer generators 63.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present inventionapparatus 60 is provided for receiving shopping inputs from themultiplicity of subscriber units 52. This apparatus may be implementedas part of the computer system of the pay television network 50 or,alternatively, may be separate computer apparatus associated therewith.The functionality and structure of the apparatus for receiving shoppinginputs 60 will be described in detail hereinafter in connection withFIG. 18.

Shopping is administered by shopping control circuitry 62, whichinterfaces with apparatus 60 and with transmission apparatus 66. Onepossible type of shopping program is an auction, wherein the bidding andresults are transmitted to subscribers along the pay television network.Shopping control circuitry 62 also interfaces with shopping offergenerators 63 and supplier accounting processors 65 to receive offersfor shopping and shopping announcements.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention,accounting apparatus 64 interfaces with shopping control circuitry 62for administering financial transactions related to the shopping betweenthe subscribers and the pay television network. The accounting apparatus64 may be operated as part of the pay television network accountingsystem, and may debit and credit, losses and winnings as the case may beto the subscribers' pay television accounts. Alternatively andpreferably, separate accounts for pay television programs and shoppingare maintained.

The accounting apparatus 64 may interface directly with transmissionapparatus 66 for providing information to subscribers regarding theirwinnings, losses, and account balances via the pay television system.Preferably the accounting apparatus 64 maintains separate accounts forpay television program charges and for non-program charges.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 4A and 4B which together illustrate ingeneralized block diagram form apparatus for providing interactive livepay television programming for an auction or gaming. The apparatus ofFIGS. 4A and 4B may be used in conjunction with the systems illustratedin either of FIGS. 1 and 3.

Gaming or shopping input apparatus 80, which may be apparatus 20 or 60in FIGS. 1 and 3, respectively provides, via a suitable interface 82,subscriber inputs to a studio 84, such as an auction or gaming hall.Depending on the particular activity being carried on, the subscriberinputs may be displayed visually on a display 86 in the studio oralternatively may be utilized in any other suitable manner.

The gaming or auction is carried out live before a television camera 88,using the subscriber inputs as bids in an auction or bets in gaming, asappropriate. The camera 88 captures the essential activity based on thesubscriber inputs and transmits a live image of this activity viasuitable interface circuitry 90 to results transmission apparatus 92 andthence to subscriber units 12. Results of a game are also input, viainterface 90, to gaming control circuitry 22.

Results transmission apparatus 92 is operative to add to thetransmission in overlay or in any other manner, as desired, gaming orauction results.

Reference is now made to FIG. 5 which illustrates a pay televisiontelevision gaming system of the type shown in FIG. 1 with certainmodifications which will now be described. Most of the elements of FIG.5 may be identical to those in the apparatus of FIG. 1 and are indicatedby identical reference numerals.

The system of FIG. 5 also includes apparatus 100 for limiting gamingactivity. This apparatus, which is described in more detail in FIG. 22,may be operative to prohibit or limit gaming activity in response tocontrol inputs received, from any suitable source, such as subscriberunits 12, gaming control circuitry 22 and accounting apparatus 24.

The inputs from the subscriber units 12 may be intended to preventgaming from being available to a subscriber entirely or at certainhours, or above certain monetary limits. The inputs from the gamingcontrol circuitry 22 may limit gaming to certain frequencies or monetarylimits and the inputs from accounting apparatus 24 may limit the amountof losses or wins that the subscriber is allowed to accrue.

The system of FIG. 5 also includes a general purpose conventional creditcard interface 102, which is coupled to accounting apparatus 24 andwhich may interact with major credit card networks in a conventionalmanner and permit charging and crediting to subscriber credit cards forgaming losses and winnings.

Reference is now made to FIG. 6 which illustrates a pay televisiontelevision shopping system of the type shown in FIG. 3 with amodification which will now be described. Most of the elements of FIG. 6may be identical to those in the apparatus of FIG. 3 and are indicatedby identical reference numerals.

The system of FIG. 6 also includes a general purpose conventional creditcard interface 104, coupled to accounting apparatus 64, and which mayinteract with major credit card networks in a conventional manner andpermit charging and crediting to subscriber credit cards for shoppingexpenses.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 7A-7C which together illustrate apreferred embodiment of a pay television interface which may be employedas interface unit 16 and input unit 18 in the embodiment of FIG. 1. Eachsubscriber receives at interface unit 16 a plurality of differentscrambled inputs from transmission apparatus 26 and from regular programtransmitters. These inputs may include video programming, gamingprogramming, control messages, gaming announcements, access control datapackets, statistical data and codes, pay television subscriberaccounting data and codes, gaming subscriber accounting data and codes,accounting announcements, and a video carrier signal on which theabove-mentioned inputs are carried.

Preferably the inputs from transmission apparatus 26 are received at areceiver 150 which may perform necessary demodulation and provides anoutput to a decrypter 152 which decodes the inputs. Alternatively, theinputs may not be scrambled and the decrypter may be eliminated. As afurther alternative, only some of the inputs may be scrambled. Thereceiver 150 may be a conventional receiver useful with encrypted paytelevision systems.

The decrypter also receives one or more of the following additionalinputs: seeds, keys, stored subscriber selections, algorithms andaccounting data from a smart card unit 154 or from a memory 156. Most ofthese additional inputs are employed for decrypting the output ofreceiver 150 or a portion thereof.

The decrypter provides video programming and gaming programming outputsignals to a television 14 (FIG. 1) and also provides the followingoutputs to a CPU 158:

control messages, gaming announcements, access control data packets,statistical data and codes, pay television subscriber accounting dataand codes, gaming subscriber accounting data and codes, accountingannouncements and stored subscriber selections.

CPU 158 also receives gaming inputs via a subscriber input data receiver160, such as a conventional I/O interface, which may be actuated eitherby a keyboard 162 connected thereto or remotely by a remote controldevice 164 which forms part of the input unit 18. CPU 158 also receivesalgorithms and plain data from memory 156.

CPU 158 provides the following outputs via a multiplexer 166, amodulator 168 and an on-screen display (OSD) inserter 169 to television14 (FIG. 1):

pay television & gaming selections, statistical data, processed controlmessages, processed gaming announcements, accounting announcements, paytelevision & gaming accounting data & codes.

CPU 158 also provides the following outputs via a multiplexer 170 and adata encryptor 172:

pay television subscriber accounting data & codes, gaming subscriberaccounting data & codes, gaming selections & codes, pay televisionselections & codes.

Data encryptor 172 receives seeds, keys and algorithms from smart cardunit 154 and provides, via a transmitter unit 174, encrypted paytelevision selections and encrypted gaming selections to the paytelevision network computer and to gaming input receiving apparatus 20(FIG. 1), respectively. The data encryptor 172 preferably also providesthe following encrypted outputs to one or both of the memory 156 and thesmart card device 154:

gaming subscriber accounting data and codes, gaming selections, paytelevision subscriber accounting data and codes and pay televisionselections.

The smart card unit 154 is preferably operative in accordance with theteachings of applicant's published European Patent Application90310131.9. It is appreciated that according to an embodiment of theinvention, either the memory 156 or the smart card unit 154 may beeliminated.

Reference is now made to FIG. 8 which illustrates the structure andfunctionality of the gaming input receiving apparatus 20 which formspart of the apparatus of FIG. 1. A demodulator 200, receives anddemodulates the following inputs from subscriber units 12 via interfaces16:

Selection of payment option

Gaming credit amount requests

Selection of game

Selection of options in game

Selection of betting combinations

Subscriber identification

Gaming supplier selection

Service type selection

Optionally, the gaming input receiving apparatus 20 may also receive paytelevision programming selections and other pay television relatedsubscriber selections.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the inputs todemodulator 200 are received in encrypted form. In such a case, asuitable decrypter 202 is provided for receiving the output ofdemodulator 200.

The output of decrypter 202, or, in the absence of a decrypter, theoutput of demodulator 200 is preferably supplied to a demultiplexer 204,which separates the various inputs into inputs destined for gamingcontrol circuitry 22 and inputs destined for accounting apparatus 24.Demultiplexer 204 assigns inputs in accordance with instructionsreceived from a controller 206.

The following inputs are directed to accounting apparatus 24:

gaming credit amount requests;

gaming payment option;

gaming supplier selection;

subscriber identification;

service type selection.

The following inputs are directed to gaming control circuitry 22:

selection of game;

selection of game option;

betting combinations;

subscriber identification;

service type selection.

It is noted that preferably all of the inputs to demodulator 200, aswell as other information employed in the system, are normally in codedform. A diagram of a typical code configuration appears in FIGS. 23-26,described in detail hereinbelow.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 9A and 9B which together illustrategaming control circuitry 22 of FIG. 1. The gaming control circuitry 22of FIG. 1 comprises a demultiplexer 210 which receives control messagesfrom accounting apparatus 24 (FIG. 1) and provides demultiplexed controlmessages to a CPU 212.

A second demultiplexer 214 receives the following inputs from gaminginput receiving apparatus 20:

selection of game;

selection of game option;

betting combinations;

subscriber identification;

service type selection.

The demultiplexer 214 separates the inputs and directs them to CPU 212.CPU 212 processes these inputs, together with inputs received from gamechance generators 21, which determine winning combinations, and fromsupplier accounting processors 25 which provide supplier codes.

The outputs of CPU 212 are typically combined in a combiner 216 whichoutputs to a multiplexer 218. Multiplexer 218 provides the followingoutputs to accounting apparatus 24:

game type;

game option;

winnings;

losses;

subscriber identification.

Multiplexer 218 also provides control messages and gaming announcementsto transmission apparatus 26 for transmission to the appropriatesubscribers.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 10A and 10B, which together illustratethe accounting apparatus 24 of FIG. 1.

A first demultiplexer 230 receives the following inputs from gamingcontrol circuitry 22:

game type;

game option;

winnings;

losses;

subscriber identification.

A second demultiplexer 232 receives the following inputs from the paytelevision network computer:

pay television credit amount request;

subscriber identification;

pay television program code;

pay television supplier code;

Service type identification;

pay television payment option.

A third demultiplexer 234 receives the following inputs from gaminginput receiving apparatus 20:

gaming credit amount request;

gaming payment option;

gaming supplier code;

subscriber identification;

service type identification.

The outputs of demultiplexers 230, 232 and 234 are all supplied to a CPU236, whose operational functionality will be described hereinbelow inconnection with the flow chart appearing in FIGS. 27A-27C.

CPU 236 provides the following outputs to a combiner 238:

pay television credits & codes;

pay television debits & codes;

pay television balances & codes;

Gaming credits & codes;

Gaming debits & codes;

Gaming balances & codes;

Statistical data & codes.

The combiner 238 combines these outputs and supplies them in combinedform to a multiplexer 240 which provides the following outputs on asubscriber-by-subscriber basis:

Control messages to gaming control circuitry 22;

The following outputs to transmission apparatus 26:

statistical data and codes;

accounting announcements;

pay television subscriber accounting data & codes;

Gaming subscriber accounting data & codes;

The following outputs to supplier accounting processors 25:

pay television supplier accounting data;

gaming supplier accounting data.

Combiner 238 also supplies accounting and statistical data and codes toa memory controller 242 which also receives general applications datafrom CPU 236 and updates a memory bank 244 including the followingregisters:

pay television balance register;

statistics register;

announcements register;

general applications memory;

gaming debit register;

gaming credit register;

gaming balance register;

pay television debit register;

pay television credit register.

Memory bank 244 may also be accessed by CPU 236 via memory controller242 for transfer of general applications data.

Reference is now made to FIG. 11 which illustrates transmissionapparatus 26 of FIG. 1. The transmission apparatus comprises amultiplexer 250 which receives access control data packets from the paytelevision network computer as well as control messages and gamingannouncements from gaming control circuitry 22. The multiplexer alsoreceives the following inputs from the accounting apparatus 24:

statistical data and codes;

accounting announcements;

pay television subscriber accounting data & codes;

Gaming subscriber accounting data & codes.

The output of multiplexer 250 is supplied via an encryptor 252 to amodulator 254, which operates on a video carrier signal received from avideo carrier source and provides a modulated output to a combiner andamplifier unit 256 which receives gaming and video programming fromappropriate sources and provides a video output to the subscriber units12.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 12A and 12B which together illustrate apreferred embodiment of an interface which may be employed as subscriberinput unit 38 in the embodiment of FIG. 2. Each subscriber receives atsubscriber input unit 38 via an antenna 35 broadcast television inputsfrom the TV transmission apparatus forming part of the televisionbroadcast network 30. Each subscriber input unit 38 may also receive aplurality of inputs from supplemental transmission apparatus 39. Theseinputs may include video programming, gaming programming, controlmessages, gaming announcements, gaming subscriber accounting data andcodes, accounting announcements and statistical data and codes. Theseinputs are carried on a video carrier signal.

Preferably the inputs to subscriber input unit 38 are received at areceiver 300 which may provide TV programming and gaming programmingdirectly to television 34. The remaining information is provided to ademodulator 302 and thence to a demultiplexer 304. The output ofdemultiplexer 304 is supplied to a CPU 306 and preferably includesaccounting announcements, gaming announcements, control messages, gamingsubscriber accounting data and statistical data & codes.

The CPU receives gaming selections via a subscriber I/O interface 308from a wire-connected keyboard 310 or from a remote control unit 312.The CPU also receives a decrypted input of gaming selections andaccounting data from a decrypter 314 which receives seeds, keys andalgorithms as well as gaming selections, and accounting data inencrypted form from a smart card unit 316, which reads a smart card 318or from a memory 322.

Smart card unit 316 is also operative to insert into the smart cardencrypted gaming selections and encrypted gaming subscriber accountingdata and codes provided by a data encryptor 320.

Memory 322 may also serve as an external memory for the CPU 306 and maystore algorithms and plain data for use by the CPU 306. Data encryptor320 provides encrypted gaming selections and gaming subscriberaccounting data and codes to memory 322. Data encryptor 320 alsoreceives seeds, keys and algorithms from smart card unit 316.

CPU 306 provides gaming subscriber accounting and gaming selections &codes to a multiplexer 324, which supplies them to data encryptor 320.

CPU 306 provides the following outputs via a multiplexer 326, amodulator 328 and an on-screen display inserter 329 to television 34(FIG. 2):

statistical data, gaming selections, processed control messages,processed gaming announcements, accounting announcements, gamingaccounting data & codes.

Data encryptor 320 also provides, via a communication modem 330,encrypted gaming selections to communication apparatus 40.

Reference is now made to FIG. 13 which illustrates the communicationapparatus 40 forming part of the apparatus of FIG. 2. The communicationapparatus 40 includes a demodulator 350 which receives inputs from aplurality of subscriber input units 38. The demodulator 350 preferablyprovides the following outputs to a decrypter 352:

Gaming credit amount requests

Selection of payment option

Selection of game

Selection of options in a game

Selection of betting combinations

Subscriber identification

Gaming supplier selection

Service type selection

The decrypter 352 provides a decrypted output to a demultiplexer 354which receives control signals from a controller 356 and in accordancetherewith preferably provides the following outputs to gaming controlcircuitry 42 (FIG. 2):

Selection of game

Selection of options in a game

Selection of betting combinations

Subscriber identification

Service type selection

Demultiplexer 354 also preferably provides the following outputs toaccounting apparatus 46 (FIG. 2):

Gaming credit amount requests

Selection of payment option

Subscriber identification

Gaming supplier selection

Service type selection

Reference is now made to FIGS. 14A and 14B which together constitute asimplified block diagram illustration of gaming control circuitry 42forming part of the apparatus of FIG. 2. The gaming control circuitry 42comprises a demultiplexer 360 which receives control messages fromaccounting apparatus 46 (FIG. 2) and which provides correspondingcontrol messages to a CPU 362.

The gaming control circuitry 42 also comprises a demultiplexer 364 whichreceives the following inputs from communication apparatus 40 andprovides corresponding inputs to CPU 362:

Selection of game

Selection of game option

Selection of betting combinations

Subscriber identification

Service type selection

CPU 362 also receives supplier codes from suppliers accountingprocessors 47 and winning combinations from game chance generators 49.CPU 362 provides the following outputs via a combiner 365 and amultiplexer 366 to accounting apparatus 46:

Game type and option

Winnings

Losses

Subscriber identification

CPU 362 also provides the following outputs via combiner 365 andmultiplexer 366 to TV transmission apparatus 44 (FIG. 2):

Control messages

Gaming announcements.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 15A and 15B which together constitute asimplified block diagram illustration of accounting apparatus 46 formingpart of the apparatus of FIG. 2. The accounting apparatus 46 includes afirst demultiplexer 370 which receives the following inputs from gamingcontrol circuitry 42:

Game type and option

Winnings

Losses

Subscriber identification

The accounting apparatus 46 also includes a second demultiplexer 372which receives the following inputs from communication apparatus 40:

Gaming credit amount request

Selection of payment option

Subscriber identification

Gaming supplier selection

Service type selection

The outputs of demultiplexers 370 and 372 are supplied to a CPU 374which receives general applications data from a memory controller 376which accesses a memory 378 preferably containing at least the followingmemory units:

Gaming balance register

Announcements register

Statistics register

Gaming debit register

Gaming credit register

General applications memory

The CPU 374 outputs the following information via a combiner 380 to amultiplexer 382 and to memory 378 via controller 376:

Gaming credits & codes

Gaming debits & codes

Gaming balances & codes

Statistical data & codes

The CPU also outputs control messages via combiner 380 to multiplexer382.

The multiplexer 382 provides control messages to gaming controlcircuitry 42, gaming supplier accounting data to supplier accountingprocessors 47 and the following outputs to TV transmission apparatus 44:

Statistical data & codes

Accounting announcements

Gaming subscriber accounting data & codes.

Reference is now made to FIG. 16 which is a simplified block diagramillustration of TV transmission apparatus 44 forming part of theapparatus of FIG. 2. A multiplexer 390, forming part of apparatus 44,receives control messages and gaming announcements from gaming controlcircuitry 42 and receives the following inputs from accounting apparatus46:

Statistical data & codes

Accounting announcements

Gaming subscriber accounting data & codes.

Multiplexer 390 provides an output via an encryptor 392 to a modulator394 which receives a video carrier signal from a video carrier source.The modulated output of modulator 394 is supplied to a combiner &amplifier 396 which receives gaming programming and TV programminginputs from suitable sources and is operative to provide a TV broadcastto subscriber input units 38.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 17A-17C which together illustrate apreferred embodiment of a pay television interface which may be employedas interface unit 56 and subscriber input unit 58, forming part of theapparatus of FIG. 3. Each subscriber receives at interface unit 56 aplurality of different scrambled inputs from transmission apparatus 66.These inputs may include video programming, shopping programming,control messages, shopping announcements, access control data packets,statistical data and codes, pay television subscriber accounting dataand codes, shopping subscriber accounting data and codes, accountingannouncements, and a video carrier signal on which the above-mentionedinputs are carried.

Preferably the inputs from transmission apparatus 66 are received at areceiver 400 which may perform necessary demodulation and provides anoutput to a decrypter 402 which decodes the inputs. Alternatively, theinputs may not be scrambled and the decrypter may be eliminated. As afurther alternative, only some of the inputs may be scrambled. Thereceiver 400 may be a conventional receiver useful with encrypted paytelevision systems.

The decrypter also receives one or more of the following additionalinputs: seeds, keys, stored subscriber selections, algorithms andaccounting data from a smart card unit 404 or from a memory 406. Most ofthese additional inputs are employed for decrypting the output ofreceiver 400 or a portion thereof. Receiver 400 also may receiveshopping programs from a shopping opportunities source.

The decrypter provides video programming and shopping programming outputsignals to a television 54 (FIG. 3) and also provides the followingoutputs to a CPU 408:

control messages, shopping announcements, access control data packets,statistical data and codes, pay television subscriber accounting dataand codes, shopping subscriber accounting data and codes, accountingannouncements and stored subscriber selections.

CPU 408 also receives shopping inputs via a subscriber input datainterface 410, such as a conventional I/O interface, which may beactuated either by a keyboard 412 connected thereto or remotely by aremote control device 414 which form part of the subscriber input unit58.

CPU 408 provides the following outputs via a multiplexer 416 and amodulator 418 to television 54 (FIG. 3):

pay television & shopping selections, statistical data, processedcontrol messages, processed shopping announcements, accountingannouncements, pay television & shopping accounting data & codes.

CPU 408 also provides the following outputs via a multiplexer 420 and adata encryptor 422:

pay television subscriber accounting data & codes, shopping subscriberaccounting data & codes, shopping selections & codes, pay televisionselections & codes.

Data encryptor 422 receives seeds, keys and algorithms from smart cardunit 404 and provides, via a transmitter unit 424, encrypted paytelevision selections and encrypted shopping selections to the paytelevision network computer and to shopping input receiving apparatus 60(FIG. 3) respectively.

The data encryptor 422 preferably also provides the following encryptedoutputs to one or both of the memory 406 and the smart card unit 404:

shopping subscriber accounting data and codes, shopping selections, paytelevision subscriber accounting data and codes and pay televisionselections.

The smart card unit 404 is preferably operative in accordance with theteachings of applicant's published European Patent 90310131.9. It isappreciated that according to an embodiment of the invention, either thememory 406 or the smart card unit 404 may be eliminated.

Reference is now made to FIG. 18 which illustrates the structure andfunctionality of the shopping input receiving apparatus 60 which formspart of the apparatus of FIG. 3. A demodulator 450, receives anddemodulates the following inputs from subscriber units 52 via interfaces56:

Selection of payment option

Shopping credit amount requests

Selection of item, color, size

Selection of added items

Subscriber identification

Shopping supplier selection

Service type selection

Optionally, the shopping input receiving apparatus 60 may also receivepay television programming selections and other pay television relatedsubscriber selections.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the inputs todemodulator 450 are received in encrypted form. In such a case, asuitable decrypter 452 is provided for receiving the output ofdemodulator 450.

The output of decrypter 452, or, in the absence of a decrypter, theoutput of demodulator 450 is preferably supplied to a demultiplexer 454,which separates the various inputs into inputs destined for shoppingcontrol circuitry 62 and inputs destined for accounting apparatus 64.Demultiplexer 454 assigns inputs in accordance with instructionsreceived from a controller 456.

The following inputs are directed to accounting apparatus 64:

shopping credit amount requests;

shopping payment option;

shopping supplier selection;

subscriber identification;

service type selection.

The following inputs are directed to-shopping control circuitry 62:

selection of item, color, size

selection of added items;

subscriber identification;

service type selection.

It is noted that preferably all of the inputs to demodulator 450, aswell as other information employed in the system, are normally in codedform. Diagrams of a typical code configuration appear in FIGS. 23-26,which are self explanatory.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 19A and 19B which together illustrateshopping control circuitry 62 of FIG. 3. The shopping control circuitry62 of FIG. 3 comprises a demultiplexer which receives control messagesfrom accounting apparatus 64 (FIG. 3) and provides demultiplexed controlmessages to a CPU 462.

A second demultiplexer 464 receives the following inputs from shoppinginput receiving apparatus 60:

selection of item, color, size

selection of added items;

subscriber identification;

service type selection.

The demultiplexer 464 separates the inputs and directs them to CPU 462.CPU 462 processes these inputs, together with inputs received fromshopping offer generators 63 (FIG. 3), which determine shoppingavailability, and from supplier accounting processors 65 (FIG. 3) whichprovide suppliers' codes, in accordance with the functionality set forthin a flow chart appearing in FIGS. 30A-30C, which will be describedhereinbelow.

The outputs of CPU 462 are typically combined in a combiner 466 whichoutputs to a multiplexer 468. Multiplexer 468 provides the followingoutputs to accounting apparatus 64:

item, color, size;

added items;

subscriber identification;

Multiplexer 468 also provides control messages and shoppingannouncements to transmission apparatus 66 for transmission to theappropriate subscribers.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 20A and 20B, which together illustratethe accounting apparatus 64 of FIG. 3.

A first demultiplexer 480 receives the following inputs from shoppingcontrol circuitry 62:

item, color, size;

added items;

subscriber identification;

A second demultiplexer 482 receives the following inputs from the paytelevision network computer:

pay television credit amount requests;

subscriber identification;

pay television program code;

pay television supplier code;

Service type identification;

pay television payment option,

A third demultiplexer 484 receives the following inputs from shoppinginput receiving apparatus 60:

shopping credit amount requests;

shopping payment option;

shopping supplier code;

subscriber identification;

service type identification.

The outputs of demultiplexers 480, 482 and 484 are all supplied to a CPU486, whose operational functionality will be described hereinbelow inconnection with the flow chart appearing in FIGS. 30A-30C.

CPU 486 provides the following outputs to a combiner 488:

pay television credits & codes;

pay television debits & codes;

pay television balances & codes;

Shopping credits & codes

Shopping debits & codes;

Shopping balances & codes;

Statistical data & codes;

Control messages.

The combiner 488 combines these outputs and supplies them in combinedform to a multiplexer 490 which provides the following outputs on asubscriber-by-subscriber basis:

Control messages to shopping control circuitry 62;

The following outputs to transmission apparatus 66:

statistical data and codes;

accounting announcements;

pay television subscriber accounting data & codes;

shopping subscriber accounting data & codes.

The following outputs to supplier accounting processors (FIG. 3):

pay television supplier accounting data;

shopping supplier accounting data.

Combiner 488 also supplies accounting and statistical data and codes toa memory controller 492 which also receives general applications datafrom CPU 486 and updates a memory bank 494 including the followingregisters:

statistics register;

announcements register;

general applications resisters;

shopping debit register;

shopping credit register;

shopping balance register;

pay television debit register;

pay television credit register;

pay television balance register.

Memory bank 494 may also be accessed by CPU 486 via memory controller492.

Reference is now made to FIG. 21 which illustrates transmissionapparatus 66 of FIG. 3. The transmission apparatus comprises amultiplexer 500 which receives access control data packets from the paytelevision network computer as well as control messages and shoppingannouncements from shopping control circuitry 62. The multiplexer alsoreceives the following inputs from the accounting apparatus 64:

Statistical data and codes;

Accounting announcements;

pay television subscriber accounting data & codes;

Shopping subscriber accounting data & codes.

The output of multiplexer 500 is supplied via an encryptor 502 to amodulator 504, which operates on a video carrier signal received from avideo carrier source and provides a modulated output to a combiner andamplifier unit 506 which receives shopping and video programming fromappropriate sources and provides a video output to the subscriber units52.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 22A and 22B which illustrate thestructure and functionality of apparatus for limiting gaming activity100 which forms part of the apparatus of FIG. 5. A demodulator 600,receives and demodulates the following inputs from subscriber units 12via interfaces 16:

Selection of payment option

Gaming credit amount requests

Selection of game

Selection of options in game

Selection of betting combinations

Subscriber identification

Gaming supplier code

Service type selection

Optionally, apparatus 100 may also receive pay television programmingselections and other pay television related subscriber selections.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the inputs todemodulator 600 are received in encrypted form. In such a case, asuitable decrypter 602 is provided for receiving the output ofdemodulator 600.

The output of decrypter 602, or, in the absence of a decrypter, theoutput of demodulator 600 is preferably supplied to a demultiplexer 604,which supplies the various inputs to a CPU 606. The CPU 606 alsoreceives inputs from gaming control circuitry 22 via a demultiplexer 608and from accounting apparatus 24 via a demultiplexer 610.

CPU 606 communicates with a memory 612 via a memory controller 614 andprovides limitations on gaming activity. Outputs from the CPU 606 areprovided via a combiner 616 and a multiplexer 618 as follows:

To gaming input receiving apparatus 20:

Selection of payment option

Gaming credit amount requests

Selection of game

Selection of options in game

Selection of betting combinations

Subscriber identification

Gaming supplier code

Service type selection

Status OK signal.

To transmission apparatus 26:

Subscriber identification

Service type selection

Limiting status announcement and code

To accounting apparatus 24:

Subscriber identification

Service type selection

Limiting status code

To gaming control circuitry 22:

Subscriber identification

Service type selection

Limiting status code

Reference is now made to FIGS. 23-26 which together constitute anillustration of the configuration of typical codes for informationutilized in the systems of the present invention. In order to maintainseparate accounts for different services, such as pay televisionprograms, shopping and gaming, identification codes are employed todistinguish between different services. Identification codes are alsoemployed to distinguish between various suppliers, subscribers, etc.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention each identification code isarranged as a group of digits that may be enciphered and transmitted, ineither an analog or a digital form, compressed or non-compressed, aspart of a communication signal. At a receiving end the codes arestripped from the signal, decrypted and converted to analog form asnecessary, and processed.

In FIG. 23 strings of credit identification codes are illustrated. Ineach of the credit identification codes, the first digit, representingan accounting code, has a value of "1" which identifies the accountingcode as a credit code. The next digit is a service type code whichidentifies the service for which the credit is used. "1" denotes creditfor pay television, "2" denotes credit for gaming and "3" denotes creditfor shopping.

Additional services may be added with other identifying digits.

The next two digits constitute the supplier identification code. Asupplier is identified by a two-digit supplier number so that differentsuppliers can provide the same type of service (pay television, gaming,shopping, etc.) and even the same offers (programs, games, merchandise,etc.).

Credit for pay television and for gaming can be authorized per specificprogram and per specific game. Therefore, two additional digits arepreserved for a program number identifier and game identification coderespectively. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, credit forshopping is given without restriction to specific items.

The next six digits constitute a subscriber identification code whichrelates the credit to a specific subscriber.

Several payment options are possible, as indicated by a two-digitpayment identification code which follows the subscriber identificationcode. The first digit identifies the possible choice of payment optionswhich could be, for example, monthly payment or payment by installments.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second digit is used toenable selection of one of a number of different tariffs applicable tovarious types of activities and activity timings. Thus, for example, ahigh rate tariff could be used for data transmission shortly before agame or auction starts, a medium rate tariff for transmission of data anhour or more before the game starts, and low rate tariff for subscriberswho have entered their selections a day or more before the beginning ofthe game or the auction. The opportunity to apply different tariffs inthe context of the payment option code, enables the game or auctionsuppliers to regulate the flow of data and to improve service to thecustomers.

The next group of digits identifies the amount of credit. In a preferredembodiment of the invention various credit levels can be selected forvarious service types. Therefore, the number of digits available for thecredit amount code can vary for different services. The last group ofdigits constitutes the credit destination. Thus crediting the smart cardhas a different code than crediting a credit card account.

Reference is now made to FIG. 24 which illustrates debit identificationcodes according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. Here, thefirst four digits have the same purpose as in the credit identificationcodes illustrated in FIG. 23. "2" identifies the accounting signal as adebit signal. The next two digits are used to specify the programnumber, game identification number or item identification number in thepay television, gaming or shopping debit identification codesrespectively.

In a shopping debit identification code additional digits are providedto specify the merchandise of interest. In a preferred embodiment of theinvention, two digits are allocated to item color, five digits areallocated to item size, and four additional digits are used to denoteancillary items which are related to an item ordered (for examplecolored ribbons that might come with a woman's dress).

The last four groups of digits may be identical to those appearing inthe credit identification codes of FIG. 23.

FIG. 25 illustrates balance identification codes which form part of amonetary balance signal which may be communicated between transmissionapparatus, such as transmission apparatus 26 (FIG. 1) and a subscriberunit, such as subscriber unit 12 (FIG. 1). The first four digits mayhave the same purpose as those of the credit and debit identificationcodes in FIGS. 23 and 24 respectively.

The digit "3" in the first group identifies the accounting signal as abalance signal. The last four groups of digits may have a similarstructure and purpose as in the credit and debit identification codes,other than the amount code, which represents the amount of the balance.

FIG. 26 illustrates a statistics identification code. In a preferredembodiment of the invention the statistics code forms part of astatistics signal that is transmitted by transmission apparatus, such astransmission apparatus 26 (FIG. 1) to a subscriber unit, such assubscriber unit 12 (FIG. 1) in order to assist subscribers in theselection of possible winning numbers or as an inducement to encouragethem to purchase specific merchandise.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the first digit of thestatistics code, which has the value of "4", identifies the signal as astatistics signal. The next digit identifies the service for whichstatistics are given. The following two digits form the supplieridentification code. Two additional digits are used to specify theprogram, the game, or the item according to the service type. Fouradditional digits are used to specify either the option in a game orcertain shopping specifications such as item color, item size orancillary items that are added to the main item.

The next six digits are used for the subscriber identification numberand the following two digits are used for the payment option code asdescribed hereinabove in connection with the credit identificationcodes.

The last group of ten digits constitutes the subscriber personal datacode. In a preferred embodiment of the invention this code comprisesthree digits for the residence code, one digit for the age group code,one digit each for sex, family status and number of childrenrespectively, and three last digits for specific additional informationsuch as personal preferences.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 27A-27C which together constitute aflowchart that describes operations in a gaming system in accordancewith FIG. 1.

To start, a subscriber who wishes to participate in a game is requestedto make the following sequential selections:

The gaming pay television channel;

A game from a menu;

A supplier from a menu;

The sum of money to be gambled.

If the sum of money is under an allowed credit limit, the system checksif the number of gambling activities is under a maximum limit.

The credit limit and number of gambling activities limit may be carriedout by the apparatus of FIGS. 22A and 22B and is intended to preventgambling addiction by limiting available credit and the number of timesa subscriber is allowed to play per unit of time, such as per day or permonth.

If the subscriber lacks sufficient credit to cover the amount he choosesto gamble, the system delivers a lack of credit message. Then thesubscriber is asked if he desires more credit. If the answer is "No" thesystem exits the gaming program. If the answer is "Yes" the systemchecks if he is entitled to more credit. If he is not allowed to havemore credit the system delivers a "no additional credit allowed" messageand exits the gaming program.

If the subscriber is authorized to obtain additional credit he isrequested to select the required credit amount. The menu does not allowthe subscriber to request credits above his entitlements. After theselection of required credit the subscriber approves the creditselection and a request for credit is transmitted. The subscriber thenaccepts the credit and verifies the reception of the transmitted credit.

Once the subscriber has additional credit to cover his gambling request,he is transferred back to the menu in which he is requested to enter theamount of money he wishes to gamble in this game.

It is noted however that the request of credit can be effected byvarious means such as a phone call to the gaming credit administrator,which may be a person or an interactive computer system. In such a casethe subscriber only receives a message on the screen urging him to makea phone call to the credit administrator and only the credit signal willbe sent via the pay television network. Another possibility is that thecredit will be updated automatically when it approaches a minimum sum.In that case, the above described limiting procedure may be omitted.

Returning now to the test of number of entries, if the number of timesthe subscriber has gambled is less than the limit, the subscriber ispermitted to select a game option. If the limit is exceeded, the systemprovides a message to the subscriber announcing that he has exceeded thepermitted number of gambling activities and exits the gaming program.

After selection of the game option the subscriber is presented with ascreen, such as the screen appearing in FIG. 33 and is requested toselect his betting combinations. At the end of each sequence ofselections the subscriber is asked if he wishes to make more selections.If the answer is "Yes" the costs of the successive gambling activitiesare accumulated and subtracted from the remaining credit. The systemthen returns to the test in which it checks if the sum is under theavailable credit and proceeds accordingly.

It is noted that the screen of FIG. 33 includes a display of "Time toLottery" or the equivalent, which continuously indicates to thesubscriber, the amount of time remaining for betting before the gamebegins.

When the subscriber completes his gambling selections he is askedwhether he wishes to transmit the data. If the answer is "No" thesubscriber is further asked if he wishes to cancel his previousselection. If the answer is "No" the subscriber is transferred back tothe selection of betting combinations menu. If the answer is "Yes" thesystem cancels the last selection and subtracts the cost of the lastselection. Then, it again transfers the subscriber back to the selectionof betting combinations menu.

The possibility of elimination of previous selections enablescorrections of data entered by the subscriber in case he either changeshis mind or makes errors during the data entry.

If the subscriber approves the transmission of data he is then requestedto select the payment option. Available payment options are describedhereinbelow with reference to FIG. 28.

After selection of the payment option the data entered by the subscriberis transmitted to gaming input receiving apparatus 20.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the same data is transmittedto the subscriber smart card or to the internal memory of the paytelevision interface unit 16.

The system then checks if the transmissions were successfully completed.If not, the system repeats the transmissions until all data issuccessfully transferred. Then, the system delivers an O.K. message toinform the subscriber of the communication result, and displays thetransmitted data on the television screen for reference, after which thesubscriber is asked if he wishes to continue gambling.

At this point, if the subscriber wishes to proceed with more gambling,the entire loop is repeated starting with the menu of selections ofbetting combinations. Otherwise, the system exits the gaming program orturns to other programs or channels.

At the end of the game, if there are no winnings to the subscriber, thesystem informs the subscriber of the game results on whatever channel heis currently watching. If the subscriber has won in the game, the systemdelivers a message of the winning to the subscriber on whatever channelhe is currently watching, and checks if the winning is above an instantdistribution limit. If the prize is under this limit, the amount istransmitted to the smart card or to the internal memory of the paytelevision interface unit 16. If the prize is above the limit the creditis transmitted to the subscriber bank account or credit card account.

Reference is now made to FIG. 28 which constitutes a flow chart thatdescribes the available choices and operations in the selection of thepayment option procedure.

When the subscriber enters the menu for selection of payment option, heis required to select one of the available payment modes, which aretypically credit card, smart card and payment by installments. Then thesubscriber is required to select one of the available data transmissionoptions, typically immediate transmission, transmission within an hour,and transmission at off-peak hours.

If the subscriber chooses to transmit data immediately the subscriber isdebited at the highest rate--tariff 1. If, however he prefers totransmit the data within an hour, the system sets a one-hour clock andthen interrogates the gaming input receiving apparatus 20 every fiveminutes to initiate connection. When communication is established by thegaming input receiving apparatus, at a time convenient with respect toits workload, the data is transferred and the subscriber is debited at amedium rate--tariff 2.

If the gambling is to begin in a day or more, the subscriber may chooseto transmit the data at off-peak hours. In that case the systemcalculates the time left to the beginning of the selected game, sets a24 hour clock, and interrogates the gaming input receiving apparatus 20at off-peak times which might be, for example, late at night or early inthe morning. The subscriber is then billed at the lowest rate--tariff 3.

Reference is now made to FIG. 29 which constitutes a flow chart thatdescribes the operations related to the selection of payment option inthe interactive gaming system of FIG. 4.

When the subscriber enters the menu for selection of payment option, heis required to select one of the available payment modes, which aretypically credit card, smart card and payment by installments. Since thegame is interactive there is no potential selection of data transmissionoption and connection with the gaming input receiving apparatus isinitiated immediately after the subscriber has completed entry of thedata.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 30A-30C which together constitute a flowchart that describes the operations in a shopping system according toFIG. 3.

To start, a subscriber who wishes to purchase goods or to participate inan auction is presented with a screen, such as the screen shown in FIG.34 and is requested to make the following sequential selections:

A shopping pay television channel;

A shopping menu;

An item code;

A supplier.

The subscriber is then asked whether he wants to watch a productcommercial.

A continuous indication of the time remaining until termination of salepricing or an auction may be provided on the screen, as shown in FIG.34.

If the answer is "Yes" the commercial is shown on the TV screen. At theend of the commercial, the system displays a purchase menu and presentsa display of the subscriber available credit.

If the answer is "No", the system immediately turns to the purchase menuand presents the available credit to the subscriber.

If the available credit is above a minimum threshold, typically of theorder of $20, the subscriber is asked if he prefers to increase hiscredit. If the answer is "No" the subscriber is passed to an itemselection menu in which he selects the item size, color, ancillary itemsand other specifications if available.

If the subscriber wishes to increase his credit, the system checks if heis entitled to more credit. If the increased credit is approved, thesubscriber is requested to select the required credit amount. The menudoes not allow the subscriber to request credits above his entitlement.After the selection of required credit the subscriber approves thecredit selection and a request for credit is transmitted. The subscriberthen accepts the credit and verifies the reception of the transmittedcredit. Afterwards, he is transferred to the item selection menu.

If the subscriber is not entitled to more credit but he still has creditabove the threshold the system delivers a "No additional credit allowed"message, and the subscriber is asked if he wishes to exit the shoppingprogram. If he does, the system exits the shopping program. If thesubscriber prefers to continue shopping he is passed to the itemselection menu.

If subscriber initial credit is less than the threshold the subscriberis asked if he wants more credit. If the answer is "No" the system exitsthe shopping program. If the answer is "Yes" the system checks whetherthe subscriber is entitled to more credit, and if he is not the systemexits the shopping program. If the subscriber is entitled to obtain morecredit he is requested to select the required credit amount. After hisapproval, a request for credit is transmitted. The subscriber thenaccepts the credit and verifies the reception of the transmitted credit.

Once the subscriber has additional credit to cover his future purchaseshe is passed to the item selection menu which was previously described.

After the selection of each different item the subscriber is asked if hewants to select more products. If he does the system accumulates thecosts of the products and subtracts the accumulated sum from theremaining credit. Then, the system passes back to the test in which itchecks if the subscriber credit is above the threshold.

When the subscriber has completed his purchases, he is asked if hewishes to transmit the data. If he chooses not to transmit the data thenhe is asked whether to cancel the previous selection. If he wishes tocancel the selection, its cost is credited to his account and thesubscriber is passed back to the item selection menu. If the previousselection is not canceled the subscriber is passed directly to the itemselection menu.

If the subscriber approves the transmission of data, he is requested toinitiate selection of the payment option, as described above withreference to FIG. 28. The data is then transmitted to the shoppingopportunities receiving apparatus 60.

The data is also transmitted to the subscriber smart card or to theinternal memory of the pay television interface unit 56. The system thenchecks if the transmissions are successfully completed.

If they are not then the transmission sequence is again initiated untilall transmissions are successfully completed. A status O.K. is deliveredto the subscriber if the transmissions are successfully terminated andthe data transmitted is displayed on the TV screen. Then the subscriberis asked if he wishes to continue purchasing, and if he does, he istransferred back to the item selection menu. If the subscriber prefersto stop purchasing the system returns to the shopping program.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 31A-31C which together constitute a flowchart that describes the operations of an interactive gaming system ofthe type illustrated in FIG. 4.

To start, a subscriber who wishes to participate in an interactive gameis presented with a screen which may be of the type illustrated in FIG.35 and is requested to make the following sequential selections:

An interactive gaming pay television channel;

A gaming menu;

A supplier from a menu.

The subscriber can then watch a selected interactive gaming program. Ifhe chooses to participate in the game he may so indicate by pressing anappropriate button on a pay television remote control unit. He thenreceives acknowledgement of his participation in the game and isreferred to a selection menu in which he is requested to select theamount of money to be gambled in the game. The system then checks if thesum is under the available credit limit.

If the sum is above the available credit the system delivers a "lack ofcredit" message. The subscriber is then asked whether he wants toincrease his credit. If the answer is "No" the system exits the gamingprogram. If the answer is "Yes" the system checks if an increase incredit is authorized.

If the subscriber is not entitled to obtain more credit the systemdelivers a "No more credit allowed" message and exits the gamingprogram. If the subscriber is allowed to increase his credit he ispassed to a menu in which he is requested to select the required creditamount. After his selection and approval, a request for credit istransmitted. The subscriber then accepts the credit and verifies thereception of the transmitted credit.

Afterwards, the subscriber is transferred back to a menu in which he isrequested to enter the amount of money to be gambled.

The subscriber enters the amount of money to be gambled and the systemchecks if the subscriber has not exceeded a permissible number of gamingactivities. If the number of gaming activities is exceeded the systemdelivers a message indicating the exceedance of the permitted numbergaming activities and exits the gaming program.

If the permitted number of gaming activities is not exceeded, thesubscriber is requested to select an option in the game. Then he maystart selecting betting inputs.

After each sequence of betting selections the subscriber is asked if hewants to select additional betting inputs.

If the answer is "Yes" the system accumulates the costs of theadditional selections, subtracts them from the remaining credit, andreturns to the procedure in which it checks if the gambled sums areunder the available credit.

If the answer is "No" the subscriber is asked if he wants to transmitthe data gathered.

If the subscriber does not want to transmit the data at this time, he isasked whether to cancel the previous selection. If the answer is "Yes"the cost of the last selection is credited to his account and thesubscriber is transferred back to the selection of betting inputs menu.If the answer is "No" the subscriber is transferred directly to theselection of betting inputs menu.

If the subscriber approves the transmission of data he is requested toselect the payment option according to the procedure describedhereinabove with reference to FIG. 29. Then the system transmits thedata to gaming input receiving apparatus 80 (FIG. 4).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the same data is transmittedto the subscriber smart card or to the internal memory of the paytelevision interface unit 16. The system then checks if thetransmissions were successfully completed. If not, the system repeatsthe transmissions until all data is successfully transferred.Subsequently, the system delivers an O.K. message to inform thesubscriber of the communication result, and displays the transmitteddata on the TV screen for reference, after which the subscriber is askedif he wishes to continue betting.

At this point, if the subscriber wishes to proceed with gambling, theentire procedure is repeated starting with the selection of bettingcombinations menu. Otherwise, the system returns to the program or turnsto other programs or channels.

At the end of the game, if there are no winnings to be credited to thesubscriber, the system informs the subscriber of the game results onwhatever channel he is currently watching.

If the subscriber has won in the game, the system delivers a messagereporting the winning to the subscriber on whatever channel he iscurrently watching, and checks if the prize is above an instantdistribution limit. If the prize is under this limit, the amount istransmitted to the smart card or to the internal memory of the paytelevision interface unit 16. If the prize is above the limit the creditis transmitted to the subscriber bank account or credit card account.

Reference is now made to FIG. 32 which is a flow chart that describesthe available choices and operations in the selection of a procedure forobtaining statistical data for each of the services available in thesystems described hereinabove with reference to FIGS. 1-4.

A subscriber who wishes to receive statistics information is required toselect a statistics program or channel and a service type.

If the statistical information is required for pay television, thesubscriber is requested to select a supplier code and a program number.

To receive statistical information relating to the program thesubscriber has to select several statistical parameters. In a preferredembodiment of the invention such parameters indicate the period forwhich the statistical data is required, the number of programsdistributed by the supplier, the producers of the program, actors, etc.

Once the statistical data has been displayed and analyzed by thesubscriber the subscriber is asked if he prefers to return to theprogram. If he does the system exits to the program. Otherwise, thesystem enables the subscriber to return to the statistical parametersselection menu.

If the statistics are required for gaming, the subscriber is requestedto select the supplier code, a game, and an option in the game.

To receive statistical information relating to a game the subscriber hasto select several statistical parameters. In a preferred embodiment ofthe invention such parameters indicate the period for which thestatistical data is required, gambling sums and winnings, number ofparticipants, statistical distributions, etc. A typical statisticsoutput display appears in FIG. 36.

Once the statistical data has been obtained and analyzed by thesubscriber he is asked if he prefers to return to the program. If hedoes the system exits to the program, otherwise, the system enables thesubscriber to return to the statistical parameters selection menu.

If the statistics are required for shopping, the subscriber is requestedto select the supplier code and the item for which the statistics areneeded.

To receive statistical information relating to an item the subscriberhas to select several statistical parameters. In a preferred embodimentof the invention such parameters indicate the period for which thestatistical data is required, colors and sizes of the items, previousmodels, etc.

Once the statistical data has been obtained and analyzed by thesubscriber he is asked if he prefers to return to the shopping program.If he does the system exits to the shopping program. Otherwise, thesystem enables the subscriber to return to the statistical parametersselection menu.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the presentinvention is not limited by what has been particularly shown anddescribed hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention isdefined only by the claims which follow:

What is claimed is:
 1. A pay television gaming system comprising:a paytelevision network having a multiplicity of subscriber units eachincluding a television; receiving apparatus for receiving gaming inputsfrom the multiplicity of subscriber units; accounting apparatus formaintaining separate accounts for pay television and for gaming, theaccounting apparatus including apparatus for employing separateaccounting identification codes for pay television and for gaming; andtransmitting apparatus for transmitting to the multiplicity ofsubscriber units information relating to gaming results and saidseparate accounting identification codes for pay television and forgaming for settling at least one of gaming debts and gaming winnings viathe pay television network.
 2. A television gaming system comprising:atelevision network; a multiplicity of subscriber units each including atelevision; communications apparatus for receiving gaming inputs fromthe multiplicity of subscriber units; accounting apparatus formaintaining separate accounts for television and for gaming, theaccounting apparatus including apparatus for employing separateaccounting identification codes for television and for gaming; andtransmitting apparatus for transmitting to the multiplicity ofsubscriber units information relating to gaming results and saidseparate accounting identification codes for television and for gamingfor settling at least one of gaming debts and gaming winnings via thecommunications apparatus.
 3. A pay television shopping systemcomprising:a pay television network including a central control stationand a multiplicity of subscriber units each including a television;apparatus for transmitting via the pay television network to themultiplicity of subscriber units information relating to shoppingopportunities and separate accounting identification codes for paytelevision and for shopping for settling at least one of shopping debtsand shopping credits via the pay television network; receiving apparatusfor receiving shopping inputs from the multiplicity of subscriber units;and accounting apparatus for maintaining separate accounts for paytelevision and for shopping, the accounting apparatus includingapparatus for employing said separate accounting identification codesfor pay television and for shopping.
 4. A pay television gaming systemcomprising:a pay television network having a central control station anda multiplicity of subscriber units each including a television;receiving apparatus for receiving gaming inputs from the multiplicity ofsubscriber units; accounting apparatus for maintaining separate accountsfor pay television and for gaming, the accounting apparatus includingapparatus for employing separate accounting identification codes for paytelevision and for gaming; and transmitting apparatus for transmittinglive to the multiplicity of subscriber units information relating togaming results and said separate accounting identification codes for paytelevision and for gaming for settling at least one of gaming debts andgaming winnings via the pay television network.
 5. A pay televisiongaming method including the steps of:providing a pay television networkhaving a central control station and a multiplicity of subscriber unitseach including a television; receiving gaming inputs from themultiplicity of subscriber units; maintaining separate accounts for paytelevision and for gaming, including employing separate accountingidentification codes for pay television and for gaming; transmitting tothe multiplicity of subscriber units information relating to gamingresults and said separate accounting identification codes for paytelevision and for gaming; and settling gaming debts and winnings viathe pay television network by employing said separate accountingidentification codes.
 6. A television gaming method including the stepsof:providing a television network having a central control station and amultiplicity of subscriber units each including a television; receivinggaming inputs from the multiplicity of subscriber units; maintainingseparate accounts for television and for gaming, including employingseparate accounting identification codes for television and for gaming;transmitting to the multiplicity of subscriber units informationrelating to gaming results and said separate accounting identificationcodes for television and for gaming; and settling gaming debts andwinnings via communications apparatus by employing said separateaccounting identification codes.
 7. A pay television shopping methodincluding the steps of:providing a pay television network including acentral control station and a multiplicity of subscriber units eachincluding a television; providing via the pay television network to themultiplicity of subscriber units information relating to shoppingopportunities and separate accounting identification codes for paytelevision and for shopping; receiving shopping inputs from themultiplicity of subscriber units; maintaining separate accounts for paytelevision and for shopping, including employing said separateaccounting identification codes for pay television and for shopping; andsettling at least one of shopping debts and shopping credits via the paytelevision network by employing said separate accounting identificationcodes.
 8. A pay television gaming method including the stepsof:providing a pay television network having a central control stationand a multiplicity of subscriber units each including a television;receiving gaming inputs from the multiplicity of subscriber units;maintaining separate accounts for pay television and for gaming,including employing separate accounting identification codes for paytelevision and for gaming; transmitting live to the multiplicity ofsubscriber units via said pay television network information relating togaming results and said separate accounting identification codes for paytelevision and for gaming; and settling gaming debts and winnings viathe pay television network by employing said separate accountingidentification codes for pay television and for gaming transmitted tosaid subscriber units.
 9. A method according to claim 5 and beingoperable without requiring any voice interaction between the subscriberand an operator.
 10. A pay television gaming method according to claim 5and further comprising the steps of:providing a menu of availablestatistical data relating to previous games and to participants ingames; and receiving from subscribers selections of desired statisticaldata.
 11. A method according to claim 5 and wherein gaming programs maybe received by the subscribers from a source other than a televisionnetwork, such as a computer or video cassette.
 12. A system according toclaim 3 wherein said apparatus for transmitting includes a transmitterfor transmission of separate identification codes for at least one ofcredit, debit and balance.
 13. A method according to claim 5 and whereinsaid settling step comprises transmission of profit distribution codeswhich direct credit to a credit maintaining facility.
 14. A paytelevision gaming method according to claim 5 and wherein said providingstep also comprises the step of providing information to saidmultiplicity of subscriber units which continuously indicates the timeremaining for gambling in a game.
 15. A pay television gaming methodaccording to claim 5 and wherein said receiving step includescommunication of gambling selections to a gaming management facilityalong communication facilities by employing communication identificationcodes which initiate communication at preselected times.
 16. A paytelevision gaming method according to claim 15 and wherein saidcommunication identification codes are selected by a user and areassociated with differing tariff rates.
 17. A pay television gamingmethod according to claim 5 and also comprising the steps of:providing amenu of available gaming suppliers; and receiving from subscribersselections of desired gaming suppliers.
 18. A pay television gamingmethod according to claim 17 wherein said selections of gaming suppliersare obtained by employing supplier identification codes which are usedto distinguish between different suppliers.
 19. A pay television gamingmethod according to claim 5 and also comprising the steps of:providing amenu of available payment options; and receiving from subscribersselections of desired payment options.
 20. A pay television gamingmethod according to claim 19 wherein said selections of payment optionsare obtained by employing payment option identification codes which areused to distinguish between at least one of different options of paymentand different tariffs.
 21. A pay television gaming system according toclaim 1 and wherein said subscriber units further comprise:processor forprocessing subscriber CATV and gaming accounting data and selections;and memory for storing at least one of accounting data and subscriberselections.
 22. A pay television gaming system according to claim 19wherein said memory further comprise a smart card.
 23. A pay televisiongaming system according to claim 1 wherein said separate accountingidentification codes comprise at least one of separate creditidentification codes, separate debit identification codes and separatebalance identification codes.
 24. A pay television gaming systemaccording to claim 1 and wherein at least part of said multiplicity ofsubscriber units comprise a transmitter for transmitting said separateaccounting identification codes for pay television and for gaming to anaccounting facility for settling gaming debts and winnings via the paytelevision network.
 25. A pay television gaming system according toclaim 3 and wherein at least part of said multiplicity of subscriberunits comprise a transmitter for transmitting said separate accountingidentification codes for pay television and for shopping to anaccounting facility for settling shopping debts and credits via said paytelevision network.